Comparing Crimea, Balkans situations incorrect, The Economist reporter says

As the journalist pointed out, despite popularity of such comparison, residents of the Balkans themselves often don’t know what state Crimea belonged to prior to the present crisis whereas the Crimean residents are not familiar with the conflict in the Balkans. ‘This unawareness has its consequences. We hear how these superficial comparisons are made. In the year 2014 – in the age of globalization and the Internet – we see these weak arguments that confuse people instead of sensitizing them’, Judah said.

The reporter noted that even such world leaders as the presidents of Russia and the U.S. are sometimes inaccurate in their sayings on this subject. However, according to him, Crimea and Kosovo may not be compared at least because the Kosovo events were preceded by a massacre.

‘Certain similarities exist – I speak here about the need to avoid mistakes’, Judah explained. At the same time, describing the difference between the two situations, he added: ‘As a matter of fact, Milosevic never made any attempt to annex Bosnia and Serbia. That’s why this situation (in Crimea) looks absolutely different than in the Balkans’.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Kyiv Security Forum agenda is designed for 2 days and offers six panels open to the media representatives. The agenda can be amended, with amendments posted on the Forum’s website.

A separate area (Press Center) will be organized for the press, with equipped workplaces and Wi-Fi Internet access as well as live broadcast of all the Forum panels. In addition, a specially equipped area in the session hall will be reserved for journalists.

The organizers are ready to help arrange individual interviews with and comments from the Forum speakers on advance notice.

The Kyiv Security Forum annual international event, initiated by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007, is a platform for debates on the most pressing security issues in Europe and the Black Sea region. The Forum’s mission is to increase security cooperation between the European Union and the Black Sea region, raise awareness about security development among key players, and promote the role of independent and non-governmental actors in setting the security agenda in Europe.

The event is supported by the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation, the NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine, and the Chatham House Royal Institute of International Relations (UK).

For information on the project visit http://ksf.openukraine.org/

The Open Ukraine Foundation is an international charitable foundation established at the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk for strengthening public diplomacy and developing Ukraine’s reputation in the world. The Foundation achieves its goal by implementing the key programs: International Dialogue, Cultural Horizons, and Young Leaders. The Foundation is an organization of a broad circle of charity providers and unites around itself any people who care for Ukraine’s reputation and future.

For more details about the Foundation visit http://openukraine.org.